Step 1: Choose a name Nevada will accept
The name has to end with “Limited-liability Company”, “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Nevada Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Nevada against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $25, for 90 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Nevada who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Nevada companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Nevada Secretary of State. The fee is $75 (plus $150 initial list and $200 state business license due at formation). File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Same day for most online filings. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Nevada doesn't require one (NRS 86.286(1)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Nevada LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Nevada has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Nevada LLC annual report
Fee: $150 Annual List of Managers or Members, plus $200 State Business License renewal. Due: Annually by the last day of the anniversary month of formation. (Source: Limited liability company, nvsos.gov.)
| After formation | Nevada |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $150 annual list each year |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | $200 a year state business license |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $50 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Nevada certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Nevada
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $75 |
| Initial list (due at formation) | $150 |
| State business license (due at formation) | $200 |
| First year, state fees | $425 |
| Each year after | $350 |
Over five years, Nevada's state fees come to $1,825. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Limited liability company, nvsos.gov, checked 2026-10-07
State business license FAQ, nvsos.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Filing processing fees, bizhub.nv.gov, checked 2026-10-07
NRS chapter 86, leg.state.nv.us, checked 2026-10-08
NRS chapter 602, leg.state.nv.us, checked 2026-10-07
Processing dates, nvsos.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Commerce tax, tax.nv.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Nac 078, leg.state.nv.us, checked 2026-10-09
Nac 086, leg.state.nv.us, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Nevada
- Choose a name Nevada will accept and check it against the Nevada Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Nevada.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Nevada Secretary of State ($75).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Nevada?
$75 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $425 in the first year and $350 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Nevada?
The Nevada Secretary of State gives same day for most online filings.
Do I need an operating agreement in Nevada?
Nevada doesn't require one (NRS 86.286(1)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Nevada online?
Yes. The Nevada Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for $75.
When is the Nevada LLC annual report due?
Annually by the last day of the anniversary month of formation.
Does Nevada require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Nevada's recurring filing: $150 annual list each year.